From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, today announced that 37 projects are to receive funding under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support Fund. Each successful project will receive up to a total of €2,000, which will support the development and promotion of parent peer support activities across the country.
This fund is part of the National Model of Parenting Support Services; Supporting Parents, which seeks to ensure that all parents are confident and capable in their parenting role, helping to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
Research suggests, parents and those in a parenting role, are more comfortable seeking support from their peers. Parent peer support groups promote healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment and a feeling of belonging. Parenting peer support groups are particularly helpful for parents of children and young people who are coping with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues and for parents of children with complex care needs.
The Parent Peer Support Fund was initially launched in 2022, with funding being awarded to 25 projects. DCEDIY received a significant level of positive feedback on the value of this funding from services nationally across the community, voluntary and statutory sector. This year, the budget for the Parent Peer Support Fund was increased from €50,000 to €75,000.
Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman commented:
“I am delighted to announce the list of services who will receive funding under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support Fund. “The wide range and variety of initiatives dedicated to improving outcomes for parents around the country has to be admired. This funding will greatly assist those services who are working directly to provide high quality practical supports to parents and those in a caring role.”
“This additional funding, which has been made available by my Department via this fund, will allow a greater number of parents to benefit from peer support from within their own communities.”
Details of future funding initiatives under the National Model of Parenting Support Services, will be communicated via DCEDIY social media channels.
Service Name
| 1. | Archways Louth |
| 2. | Aspire Ireland |
| 3. | Athlone FRC |
| 4. | Autism Support Louth/Meath |
| 5. | Avista |
| 6. | Ballymote FRC |
| 7. | Barnardos - Waterford |
| 8. | Castlebar Le Cheile FRC |
| 9. | Children in Hospital Ireland |
| 10. | Croom FRC |
| 11. | Cuidiú CLG |
| 12. | Dóchas Midwest Autism Support |
| 13. | Down Syndrome Ireland Louth/Meath |
| 14. | Down Syndrome Limerick |
| 15. | FGU Family Resource Centre Rialto |
| 16. | Foróige, Mayo Parent Pals |
| 17. | Friends of Breastfeeding |
| 18. | Home Start Blanchardstown |
| 19. | Hospital Family Resource Centre CLG |
| 20. | Kinship Care Ireland Dublin (but is a national service) |
| 21. | Mary Immaculate College |
| 22. | Mayo Women’s Support Service (MWSS) |
| 23. | Meitheal, Down Syndrome Tipperary |
| 24. | Midleton Family Resource Centre |
| 25. | Rathkeale Together |
| 26. | Rosemount FRC |
| 27. | Saoirse Domestic Violence Service |
| 28. | Shannon FRC |
| 29. | Southill FRC |
| 30. | Special Needs Parents Network Donegal |
| 31. | St. Brigid’s Community Centre Donegal |
| 32. | St. Micheal’s House, CAMHS Coolock |
| 33. | The Crann Centre - Cork |
| 34. | This is Me Neurodiversity- Parent Support Group |
| 35. | Usher Syndrome Ireland Dublin |
| 36. | West Dublin YMCA |
| 37. | Young Ballymun |
ENDS
Supporting Parents: a National Model of Parenting Supports was developed in accordance with a commitment in First 5, a whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families 2019-2028. The model was developed by a collaborative working group led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), with input from a wide range of stakeholders from across government departments, agencies and community and voluntary organisations.
The Parent Peer Support fund builds on commitments set out within Supporting Parents, through the provision of funding for the enhancement and promotion of supports to assist parents. The initial round of funding was operated on a pilot basis and following positive feedback and high levels of interest in the scheme, it was decided to make further funding available to services supporting parents again this year.
The total funding available under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support fund was €75,000. Applications for the 2023/24 Parent Support Fund were open from 17 November to 12 December 2023.
Queries can be directed to the Parenting Support Policy Unit by email to: parentingsupport@equality.gov.ie.